The experience of divine struggle following child loss: The Case of Israeli bereaved Modern-Orthodox parents

Abstract

Child loss may undermine one’s faith. Whereas much is known about religion’s role following loss, less is known about the experience of divine struggle—namely, struggling with complex God-related emotions/beliefs—particularly among diverse sociocultural samples. Employing a narrative approach, we interviewed 20 bereaved Modern-Orthodox parents. Analysis revealed three types of divine struggle (explicit, implicit/silenced, none) differentiated by four categories: core emotional experience, response type, significance of faith in the coping process, and the impact of grief-induced divine struggle on parent-God relationship. Findings emphasize the need for culturally-sensitive inquiry of divine struggle, that divine struggle may be silenced, and therapists’ awareness is critical.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants from the Israel Foundation Trustees - Competition for Research Grants for Doctoral Students in the Social Sciences No. 30 to Rivi Frei-Landau, and was supported by the President's Office, Bar-Ilan University.